Labor checks out

In a sign of the labor movement's disengagement from the 2012 federal races, my colleague Jonathan Allen reports that a new AFL-CIO super PAC will be devoted to state legislative contests.

"Labor gave up on federal races," said a senior Democratic official. Down-ballot races are "where their money is going," said the source. "That tells you all you need to know about what kind of coattails the president is going to have."

An AFL-CIO spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the new organization.

UPDATE: An AFL-CIO official said it is "unlikely" the group will focus only on state legisative races.

"The executive council of the AFL-CIO met this week, and one issue discussed was how working people can best have an independent voice in a political process that’s being taken over by floods of corporate cash," the official said. "That conversation included moving forward with the formation of a so-called super PAC as well as ramping up our capacity to advocate for working family issues year-round."